It is impossible to underestimate how embarrassing this doping bombshell is for Sheikh Mohammed, Godolphin's owner, who is also the ruler of Dubai and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates.

OK, trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni has accepted responsibility for the fact that 11 horses from the stable - including unbeaten Certify and Gold Cup runner-up Opinion Poll - have tested positive for anabolic steroids, with a slightly lame explanation that he didn't realise he was doing anything wrong because the horses were not in competition.

Although by no means as serious as this case, in terms of substance, it was enough to make his stable liable to spot checks.

As though that threat wasn't mortifying enough for the biggest, most expensively assembled racing stable in the world, for a surprise visit to find a quarter of the horses tested were positive is completely mortifying.

Who are Godolphin?

Godolphin is the racehorse operation founded by Sheikh Mohammed which has bases in Dubai and Newmarket

Since its formation in 1992, the Maktoum family's racing stable has won more than 200 top-level Group One races in 12 different countries

Dubai Millennium, Lammtarra, Fantastic Light and Street Cry were among the big-race winners in the following years

And for the illegal substances discovered to be types of that most outlawed of performance-enhancing drugs, anabolic steroids, just adds to the pile of woes.